[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 2, 1992]
[Pages 1466-1469]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to Shallowater Co-op Gin Company Employees in Shallowater, Texas
September 2, 1992

    The President. Thank you all very much. Hey, let me tell you 
something. In case you don't know it, we finally have a first-class, 
great secretary of agriculture in Texas that understands the farmer in 
Rick Perry. And I was very, very proud of him at that Houston convention 
when he got up there and told it as it is, making all Texans proud, 
making people across the country understand that we know about 
agriculture and we know about the American spirit. Rick, thank you very 
much for that introduction.
    And let me salute the Future Farmers that are with us today. Also, 
you know I'm

[[Page 1467]]

having a little feud with the liberal gridlocked Congress. If we had 
more Congressmen like Larry Combest, we wouldn't have a gridlocked 
Congress. And may I thank Mayor Moe Dozier and, of course, Sonny Lupton, 
the one-footed glider pilot who has made us feel so much at home here, 
turned the facilities of this great place over to us. And I'm very, very 
grateful to him. May I say hello to Carye Gruben, the 1992 South Plains 
Maid of Cotton. You should be very proud to be represented by her. And 
special thanks to Randy Kennedy, who has worked so hard on this event, 
and Jane Anne Stinnett, both of them and so many more.
    Our convention in Houston was so successful that I just had to get 
back in Texas for another major event. But unfortunately, I won't be 
able to stay to see the Raiders open it up tomorrow with Oklahoma. But 
go Texas Tech!
    A little bit of reminiscing: Barbara and I moved down into Odessa in 
1948, and then we lived in Midland, Odessa-Midland for 12 years. And 
I've driven every mile between Lubbock County and Ector and Midland 
County, into Dawson County and Howard County and--[applause]--I thought 
we might have a few from around there. But I'll tell you, on a day like 
this, you can't help but feel you're glad to be back. This is beautiful, 
and I'm very grateful to all for this fantastic turnout.
    I remember when west Texas was dry. I remember picking out the 
Lubbock tumbleweeds out of one of those evaporative air conditioners in 
our little house in Odessa. No more, I'll tell you. But when I lived 
in--one more reminiscent that some of you football fans, older ones, 
might remember. We had a touch football team in Midland. And we played 
against the Lubbock team made up of Glen Davis, Mel Kutnow and Bobby 
Lane. Now, how do you like that for Lubbock excellence? We lost.
    Now, I came back here to Texas today to the heart of this wonderful 
part of rural America to talk about the farm and to talk about the 
future of the farmer. Let me be very clear right up front: I am for 
opening up world markets, for increasing exports, for keeping the 
Government off your back at home, and being there to help you get back 
on your feet when disaster strikes.
    The challenge for agricultural America is to win this economic 
competition and to win the peace. And out here in Texas we know this: We 
must be a military superpower, we must be an economic superpower, and we 
must be an export superpower. That means looking forward and getting 
ready to compete. Make no mistake, America's farmer can compete with 
anybody, anywhere around the world, provided that playing field is 
level, provided we get an even shot at world trade. I've fought to open 
new markets for American agriculture: Texas beef to Asia, Midwest grain 
to Russia, and just last month we concluded a North American free trade 
agreement with Mexico. That means new markets, and that means jobs for 
Americans. Open up trade.
    You all know this, but I want to share it with the rest of the 
country here today. American products, from blue jeans spun from Texas 
high-plains cotton to bushels of wheat from Haskell County, are in 
demand everywhere. In fact, one in every three acres planted in this 
country produces crops for export. Exports are up, and that is good for 
the growth of the American economy. If it hadn't been for exports, we'd 
really be in deep trouble. Thank you for exporting our goods and 
services abroad.
    This fall we've got a choice. Rick, I appreciate what you said, that 
I do stand with American agriculture. This fall we've got a real clear 
choice, an important choice because it's going to mean the economic 
health of American farmers all across the country. And if our opponents 
in this year's election put up these walls around America, whether 
they're high tariff walls or high tax walls, the first losers will be 
American agriculture and American jobs.
    And let me make this point. You know that Texas is America's number 
one exporter of cotton, and the State of Texas ranks among the top 10 
exporters in 14 different major crops. And if Governor Clinton gets 
infected with that antitrade strain from the protectionist crowd he's 
running around with, the big labor guys, it's going to be Texas that 
catches pneumonia. And we cannot have that.
    One of the big union heads in Washing-

[[Page 1468]]

ton today was quoted in a Washington paper as saying, ``Well, we're not 
going to get Clinton to take a position on the free trade agreement. 
We'll get that all worked out after the election.'' They're trying to 
get it worked out for protection, and that's going to hurt jobs in west 
Texas. And we cannot have it. He's got to commit. When you're President 
you can't sit on the fence--``Well, on the one hand it's this way, and 
on the one hand another.'' You've got to say, I'm for it or against it. 
I am for opening markets abroad. I am for free trade.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. I hope the west Texas farmer knows this because 
you're in this fight with us. We are fighting for a successful 
conclusion of the GATT round. That's the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade. A GATT agreement will force our competitors, especially those 
in the European Community, to cut their massive export subsidies on 
agriculture. And we want free trade, but I am going to insist on fair 
trade.
    To help us reach these good agreements we're going to be using the 
same strategy that won the U.S. military security: peace through 
strength, no unilateral disarmament. And we've used this export 
enhancement program, we call it EEP, to fight for market share against 
the EC subsidized exports. And since 1989, we have doubled the number of 
EEP initiatives and tripled the value of these EEP bonuses, selling 
almost $10 billion of commodities to 93 countries. But now we need to do 
more. The fact is that farm prices, the ones you all are getting are too 
low today. And to get those prices where they belong, we must expand 
demand. That means an even more aggressive export policy. And so today I 
am announcing the largest EEP initiative in history, to sell over one 
billion bushels, or over 30 million metric tons of wheat, with a market 
value of over $3 billion, to 28 countries around the world. The wheat 
farmers have to lead the way from up in the Panhandle. We're committed 
to reducing subsidies worldwide, but my announcement ought to leave no 
doubt. With heavy EC subsidies continuing, this export program is vital, 
and we will use it as necessary.
    Now, to keep running, work in the global marketplace, we've got to 
get ready to compete. So we've expanded research in everything from 
alternative uses of agricultural products to biotechnology. And right 
here in Texas, a new kind of cotton called B.T. cotton looks and feels 
like regular cotton, but protects itself from bugs by producing its own 
insecticide. And we will always work to make sure of this: American 
products are the highest quality products in the entire world.
    I know you've had it tough here with these excessive rains, but I'll 
tell you one thing: Over the past 3 years agricultural income has 
averaged a higher level than at any time in American history. But even 
so, 1992 has been a tough year for rural America. And last fall's 
extreme drought--Sonny and I were talking about it, and Randy, inside--
followed up by a freeze in late May, hurt the winter wheat crop from 
Kansas to the Texas Panhandle. And you know the Cotton Belt, what's 
happened: You saw a freeze in '91 followed by a wet spring that 
prevented many acres from being planted at all. And for some farmers, 
these disasters come on the heels of losses last year and the year 
before.
    Last fall I signed a bill, and Rick referred to it, I believe, to 
provide almost $1 billion in disaster assistance for '90 and '91 crops. 
And today I want to announce the next step. I am today releasing an 
additional $755 million in disaster assistance funds to help tackle 
these emergencies which have stricken the American farmer. American 
farmers need help, and with this action you'll get it. I know that that 
$755 million will not solve every problem. We will begin signups for 
winter wheat next Tuesday, other crops shortly thereafter. We can't 
prevent an early freeze, but these funds will help keep farmers on their 
feet so that the bankers will work with you and the next season's crops 
can be planted. And if additional disaster funds are needed, we will 
secure them.
    You know, when people are hurting in this country, whether it's from 
a hurricane in south Florida or losing a tremendous sugar crop over in 
Louisiana, the Government must help. We must help in disasters

[[Page 1469]]

of the magnitude that you've suffered right here in cotton country. And 
sometimes Government can help by just simply getting out of the way and 
letting Americans do what they do best, roll up their sleeves and get 
the job done.
    Take the subject of regulation. My opponents want to regulate the 
world's safest food supply and drive up its costs. Yes, I'm for food 
safety, but let's also protect the consumer from the bureaucrats. Let's 
have less regulation out of the United States Congress.
    And now let me get to a subject that I really want to warm up to. 
Take the subject of taxes. The difference here is simple. Already, and 
he hasn't even started yet, my opponent wants to raise them by $150 
billion. And I want to cut them across the board. I made one mistake; 
I'm not going to make another. He's already said $150 billion. No, we're 
not going to have that.
    And if any area understands what I'm about to say it's west Texas, 
with the values we have. Government spending: the choice is clear. They 
want to spend--already, his own proposal--want to spend $220 billion 
more. And I want to cut spending, keep the growth on mandatory programs. 
And I need your help. Ask Congress to pass my plan for a check-off for 
America. If the Congress can't do it, give the taxpayer the right to 
check his tax return and force all of us to get that deficit down. I 
mentioned that in Houston, but I'll mention it again. We're mortgaging 
the future of these Future Farmers here, and we've got to stop it. I 
want a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, and I want a 
Congress that will pass it. Help me. We can get that done. And while 
we're at it, give me what 43 Governors have, a line-item veto. If they 
can't do it, give me a shot. Give me a chance.
    Now, let me just say this in conclusion. We tried the other side's 
recipe of higher taxes and higher spending before. We went down that 
path of foreign policy inexperience. We tried that combination in the 
late seventies of a Congress controlled by the liberal Democrats and a 
liberal Democratic President. And you remember what the results were. We 
had back-to-back years of double-digit inflation. Farmers were 
devastated. We had grain embargoes. We had interest rates at 21.5 
percent. Farmers, totally devastated. We had grain embargoes that just 
kind of fizzled out, but nevertheless hurt every grain grower in the 
whole United States. Farmers were devastated. So let's not try that 
again. We cannot afford a rubber-check Congress and a rubber-stamp 
President. Do not take a chance on that and go back to those misery 
index days.
    So in this political year it's easy to be fooled. And the new kid on 
the block always shows up with new lines, the same old song. Here in 
west Texas you know all about the choice between the latest synthetic 
fiber and real cotton. And I don't pretend to have the stretch of 
spandex; I don't understand all of that. But I do know this: Some ideas 
and values and concepts are timeless. Freedom works. Opportunity awaits 
those who dare to reach for it. Competition brings out the best in the 
American people, brings it out. So if we remember those home truths and 
remember the strengths that we get from the families that are all here 
today, there is no telling what we can accomplish. The other side says 
that we're a country in decline. Don't you believe it for one single 
minute. We are number one, the most respected country anywhere in the 
world.
    So coming back to west Texas is good for the soul. Thank you for 
this fantastic, fantastic welcome back. I ask for your support. We have 
changed the world. We have brought dramatic reduction in nuclear 
weapons. We won a magnificent victory with the sons and daughters of 
Lubbock County there in Desert Storm. And now help me bring this new 
prosperity to the United States of America. We can get the job done.
    Thank you all very much. And may God bless our great country.

                    Note: The President spoke at 1:48 p.m. at 
                        Shallowater Co-op Gin Co. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Rick Perry, Texas commissioner of 
                        agriculture; Sonny Lupton, president, 
                        Shallowater Co-op Gin Board; Randy Kennedy, 
                        manager, Shallowater Co-op Gin Co.; and Jane 
                        Anne Stinnett, regional chairman, Bush-Quayle 
                        '92.